DOCSLIB.ORG

Puranas Also Make Prominent Mention of This God of Love

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Puranas Also Make Prominent Mention of This God of Love Newsletter Archives www.dollsofindia.com Sandhya and Kama Enduring Embodiments of Purity and Love Copyright © 2018, DollsofIndia Hinduism goes far beyond being a mere religion – it can be described as an attitude; a philosophy; even a way of life! Hindu mythology brings us several interesting tales and legends, many of which contain hidden lessons for life itself. These entertaining and enriching stories of Gods and Goddesses; kings and queens; princes and princesses; even ordinary human beings; educate us on ethics, values and morals that we must uphold, in order to have a peaceful, joyful and fulfilling existence. Such is the tale of Sandhya and Kama, siblings, who took birth from the mind of the Prajapati, Lord Brahma himself. Displaying extraordinary qualities, their lives have come to become enduring embodiments of love, purity, integrity and chastity. Let us now take a look at the life and times of Sandhya and Kamadeva. Kamadeva Kamadeva, also known as Kama or Manmatha, is the Hindu God of love or desire. His name comes from the Sanskrit words, 'Kama' (love or desire) and 'Deva' (God). Hence, this deva is associated with human desire, love, lust and/or longing and often implies sensual or sexual love. He is often portrayed holding a bow and arrows and is accompanied by his partner, Rati. According to the Vishnu Purana and the Bhagavata Purana, Kamadeva is a name of Vishnu, Krishna and Shiva as well. kama is also a name given to Agni (God of Fire) in the Atharva Veda. Interestingly, some legends associate Lord Krishna's son, Pradyumna, as a reincarnation of Kama. Other names of Kama include Manmatha (the one who agitates), Atanu (the one without a body), Ananga (the incorporeal), Ragavrinta (the stalk of passion), Ratikanta (Lord of Rati), Madana (the intoxicating one), Manasija (the one born of mind), Kandarpa (the inflamer of passion), Pushpavaana, Pushpadhanva, Kusumashara (the one carrying arrows made of flowers) and Abhipura. Iconography Kama is depicted as a youthful, handsome man with green skin. He rides a parrot and wields a bow, made of sugarcane, with a string of honeybees. His floral arrows are made of five types of fragrant flowers. These flowers include Ashoka flowers, white and blue lotuses, Mallika plant (Jasmine) and Mango tree flowers. The names of his arrows are Harshana, Rochana, Mohana, Shoshana and Marana, indicative of the various stages of feelings that one goes through, while one is in love. Kama Deva - God of Love - Statue Apart from his partner, Rati, his companions are a cuckoo, parrot, humming bees, a gentle and cool breeze and Vasanta, the vibrant season of spring. It is believed that the Goddess Vasanta emerged from a sigh of frustration! His festival is celebrated as Holi, Holika or Vasanta. Early Mentions Legends about Kama can be traced right back to the Rig Veda and the Atharva Veda. The Puranas also make prominent mention of this God of Love. He participates in Puranic battles, along with his troops of soldiers. According to the Shiva Purana, he is the Manasaputra (one who emanated from the mind) of Brahma. In the Skanda Purana, he is a brother of Prasuti, and a son of Shatarupa, who was created by Brahma. In yet other texts, he is considered to be the son of Vishnu. Thus Spake The Vedas - Book Kama also receives mention in the 12th century Javanese poem, Smaradahan, which relates the tale of Kamadeva burning by Shiva's anger and his fall from heaven to the earth. Kama and Rati are referenced as Kamajaya and Kamarati in Kakawin poetry and some later works as well. In Mythology Kama is the husband of Rati, who is the daughter of Daksha. Legend has it that she was created from Daksha's sweat. She is the very essence of desire and carries a discus and a lotus. Her slim arms are compared to lotus-stalks. Though she is his partner, she is only a minor character in his story. Different Puranas record different versions of Kamadeva's birth. According to the Mahabharata, a Prajapati named Dharma was born from the right breast of Brahma. He had three sons, Sama, Kama and Harsa. In some versions, Kama arises from the mind of Brahma. In yet others, he is the son of Sri. Some legends portray him as being in the service of Lord Indra. Shiva Incinerates Kama One of the major legends associated with Kama is that of his incineration by Lord Shiva. In the narrative, Indra and the Gods were suffering at the hands of the terrible demon, Tarakasura. The demon had a boon that he could not be defeated by anyone other than Shiva's son. At that time, Shiva had lost his wife, Sati, and was disillusioned with Samsara (worldly life) and all that it had to offer. He shut himself out from everyone and everything and immersed himself in deep meditation in the Himalayas. Sati reincarnated as Parvati, the daughter of King Himavan. From a very young age, she held a deep fascination and love for Shiva and longed to marry him. Shiva, though, continued to be immersed in meditation and did not care for her presence around him. Parvati Worshipping Shiva - Picture Brahma knew that only their offspring could destroy Taraka. Hence, wanting the union of the two, he advised Parvati to seduce Shiva. She tried everything to woo him. She would visit his cave every day, clean it, place a garland of fresh flowers around his neck, sit at his feet and meditate for hours on end. When he still failed to respond, she took a vow to stay totally off food and water. She then stripped herself of her clothing and, in that biting cold, proceeded to go into deep meditation for days on end. She was then known as Aparna and Uma. When all of Parvati's efforts failed, Indra assigned Kamadeva to the task of breaking Shiva's penance and get him attracted to Parvati. In order to create the right atmosphere, Kama created the spring season. He also took the form of a fragrant southern breeze in order to evade Nandi and enter Shiva's abode. Then, one by one, he started shooting his floral arrows at Shiva. When Shiva was awoken by Kama's arrow, he was absolutely furious. Being famous for his fiery temper, he raged on, looking for the person who disturbed him from his penance. When he sighted Madana (Kama), Shiva opened his third eye, from which emanated streams of fire, which instantly turned the former into ash. Ravi Varma Shiva Burning Kamadeva Poster Shiva then spied a frightened and horrified Parvati standing by the side and asked her how he could help her. A grief-stricken Rati ran up to Shiva, pleading him to revive her dead husband. She tried to make him understand that it was not his fault and that he had shot the arrows only on the behest of the Gods. To date, Kama is offered fresh mango and sandalwood paste as an offering to cool down the burns inflicted by Shiva. Shiva relented and agreed that he would bring Kama back to life, under one condition; that he would live on in a disembodied form. Shiva and Parvati together resuscitated him. Hence, Kama is also called Ananga or Atanu. The spirit of Kama is now spread all over the cosmos, touching and affecting every living being with its powerful, though unseen, presence. In the meantime, the arrow that Kama had shot at Shiva took effect and made him fall in love with Parvati. They united in holy matrimony and later created their son, Kartikeya (or Murugan), who went on to fulfill his mission of destroy Tarakasura. Murugan Framed Picture Kama Reincarnates as Pradyumna According to the Matsya Purana, after Kama was incinerated by Shiva, he reincarnated in the womb of Krishna's wife, Rukmini. He was named Pradyumna. Invoking Kama It is believed that, in order to invoke Kama and make a person fall in love with you, you need to chant the powerful 'Kleem' mantra. Some say that chanting of this mantra 108 times every day, for 21 days, during the early morning hours, thinking of your loved one, will result in that person feeling the same love for you. Believers claim that this mantra not only creates love, but also helps couples stay in love over a long period of time, resulting in a happy union. One important thing, they say, is that the practitioner must necessarily keep away from consuming alcohol and non-vegetarian food during this 21-day period. They say that the mantra greatly benefits all types of performing artists as well, since it gives them added grace and charisma; also helping them perform better in their field. Worship and Rituals Kama and Rati prominently feature in several Hindu rituals and ceremonies. During a Hindu marriage ceremony, the bride's feet are often painted with images of Suka, the parrot, which is the vehicle of Kama. Kama also features in several legends and is venerated by those seeking health, beauty, spouses and children. In Gaudiya Vaishnavism In Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Kamadeva is considered to have incarnated as Krishna's son, Pradyumna. Hence, he is believed to have many of Krishna's qualities, such as color, appearance and beauty, to name a few. Here, Krishna becomes the spiritual Kama, the ever-youthful, ever-handsome transcendental God of Vrindavana. He is love itself and yet, remains detached from mundane love and the one who is worshipped with the Kama-Gayathri and Kama-Bija mantras. Krishna was deeply loved and adored by the Gopis.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Read Book Kamadeva the God of Desire Pdf Free Download
    KAMADEVA THE GOD OF DESIRE PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Anuja Chandramouli | 336 pages | 01 Sep 2015 | Rupa & Co | 9788129134592 | English | New Delhi, India Kamadeva the God of Desire PDF Book Oh how about including VHP in all of this. Brahma advises that Parvati should seduce Shiva since their offspring would be able to defeat Taraka. So from that perspective, this book gives Kamadeva a point of view in the epic tradition. Post a Comment. As a lover of ASOIAF series, it was hard to notice that even a book of that level of complexity was written in a very simple language but this one was one hell of a complex bundle of difficult sentences and words. We respect your privacy and will never share your email address with any person or organization. Kamadeva was created by Lord Brahma in order to introduce love among the people, and also for the creation of people. Preview — Kamadeva by Anuja Chandramouli. Why We Say Namaste. Jul 20, Urvashi rated it it was ok. I will definitely order again from Exotic India with full confidence. There are different versions of his story found in the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, and the Puranas, among other texts. This makes the tale dragging and boring, to put it bluntly. Yogapedia explains Kamadeva Hindu mythology offers several different versions of Kamadeva's origins. Could she please write more such. Best friends with Indra, the King of the Gods, tutor to the Apsaras in the art of lovemaking, Kamadeva lives a dream life in the magnificent Kingdom of Amaravathi-until danger strikes when he incurs the wrath of Shiva because of a preordained curse.
    [Show full text]
  • Constellation Creation
    Constellation Creation Constellations are fun to identify in the night sky, have helped humans navigate and chart the seasons for thousands of years, are the stuff of great legends and myths, but what can these patterns really tell us about stars? Students create constellation models as a team to find out. Grades Next Generation Science Standards • 5-8 • ESS1.A: The Universe and its Stars. The sun is a star that appears larger and brighter than other stars because it is closer. Stars range greatly in their distance from Earth. Time • 5-ESS1-1. Support an argument that differences in the apparent brightness of the sun • Prep 15 min compared to other stars is due to their relative distances from Earth. • 30 min activity plus pre-activity • MS-ESS1-3– Analyze and interpret data to determine scale properties of objects in the solar class time system. discussion Materials Utah Science 7 copies of Orion and Big Dipper sheet in color, cut in half Standards 12 blue stars, 1 Betelgeuse, 1 Mizar prints in color • 6.1.3 Use computational thinking to analyze data and Cardboard or poster board determine the scale and Glue properties of objects in the solar system. Scissors or razor blade Popsicle sticks Extra copies of the Orion and Big Dipper sheet for your Earth observers Do Ahead • You want to have 7 stars for each constellation that students can hold. Cut out 6 blue stars and one Betelgeuse for Orion, glue onto board, glue Orion constellation on back, attach popsicle stick for holding. • Cut out 6 blue stars and 1 Mizar for the Big Dipper, glue onto board, glue Big Dipper on back, attach popsicle stick for holding.
    [Show full text]
  • Šrî Sâi Leela
    ŠRÎ SÂI LEELA Šrî Shirdi Sai Bâbâ Temple 1449 & 1451 Abers Creek Road, Monroeville, PA 15146 Mailing: PO Box 507 , Monroeville, PA 15146-0507 Phone: 412-374-9244 Fax: 412-374-0940 Website: http://www.baba.org “Help Ever, Hurt Never” Like us - www.facebook.com/pittsburghbabatemple August 2017 Spend money in charity; be generous and munificent but not extravagant - Šrî Sâi Bâbâ. Kshetrapalaka Sanjeevani Veera HANUMAN PRATISHTA(CONSECRATION) Thursday August 10th - Saturday 12th Dear Sai Family, With at most enthusiasm we are very happy to announce that an 8 feet Kshetrapalaka SANJEEVANI VEERA HANUMAN is on its way from Maha Balipuram, INDIA personally hand picked by Founder President Saint Sri Panduranga. Concecration is set for August 10th - 12th . The Temple is getting ready for concecration, your attendence and financial support is needed to make this event successful. For further details call temple at 412 374 9244 or visit our website baba.org. Jai Sairam! Sri Hanuman Pratishta Program Thursday Aug 10th - 6.00 pm - 9.00 pm Hanuman Pratishta Sankalpam $1008 Deeksha vastralu & Gold pendent Ksheera , Jala Adhivasa Cultural Program Theertham & Prasadam Friday Aug 11th - 9am – 12noon Sukta , Adivasa , Mula Mantra Homam - $126 Sponsorship Form for Sri Hanuman ji 6.00 pm Anjaneya Moola Mantra Homam – $126 Consecration Pushpadhivasa & Cultural Program Theertham & Prasadam Sri Hanuman Ji Statue - $15000 th Names on Plaque & Photo(4.25'’ x 5.5'’) on Wall of Devotees Saturday Aug 12 - 8 am – 12noon Vayu Pratishta Karyakramam (Custom made) Gazebo
    [Show full text]
  • Reg. No Name in Full Residential Address Gender Contact No
    Reg. No Name in Full Residential Address Gender Contact No. Email id Remarks 20001 MUDKONDWAR SHRUTIKA HOSPITAL, TAHSIL Male 9420020369 [email protected] RENEWAL UP TO 26/04/2018 PRASHANT NAMDEORAO OFFICE ROAD, AT/P/TAL- GEORAI, 431127 BEED Maharashtra 20002 RADHIKA BABURAJ FLAT NO.10-E, ABAD MAINE Female 9886745848 / [email protected] RENEWAL UP TO 26/04/2018 PLAZA OPP.CMFRI, MARINE 8281300696 DRIVE, KOCHI, KERALA 682018 Kerela 20003 KULKARNI VAISHALI HARISH CHANDRA RESEARCH Female 0532 2274022 / [email protected] RENEWAL UP TO 26/04/2018 MADHUKAR INSTITUTE, CHHATNAG ROAD, 8874709114 JHUSI, ALLAHABAD 211019 ALLAHABAD Uttar Pradesh 20004 BICHU VAISHALI 6, KOLABA HOUSE, BPT OFFICENT Female 022 22182011 / NOT RENEW SHRIRANG QUARTERS, DUMYANE RD., 9819791683 COLABA 400005 MUMBAI Maharashtra 20005 DOSHI DOLLY MAHENDRA 7-A, PUTLIBAI BHAVAN, ZAVER Female 9892399719 [email protected] RENEWAL UP TO 26/04/2018 ROAD, MULUND (W) 400080 MUMBAI Maharashtra 20006 PRABHU SAYALI GAJANAN F1,CHINTAMANI PLAZA, KUDAL Female 02362 223223 / [email protected] RENEWAL UP TO 26/04/2018 OPP POLICE STATION,MAIN ROAD 9422434365 KUDAL 416520 SINDHUDURG Maharashtra 20007 RUKADIKAR WAHEEDA 385/B, ALISHAN BUILDING, Female 9890346988 DR.NAUSHAD.INAMDAR@GMA RENEWAL UP TO 26/04/2018 BABASAHEB MHAISAL VES, PANCHIL NAGAR, IL.COM MEHDHE PLOT- 13, MIRAJ 416410 SANGLI Maharashtra 20008 GHORPADE TEJAL A-7 / A-8, SHIVSHAKTI APT., Male 02312650525 / NOT RENEW CHANDRAHAS GIANT HOUSE, SARLAKSHAN 9226377667 PARK KOLHAPUR Maharashtra 20009 JAIN MAMTA
    [Show full text]
  • Winter Constellations
    Winter Constellations *Orion *Canis Major *Monoceros *Canis Minor *Gemini *Auriga *Taurus *Eradinus *Lepus *Monoceros *Cancer *Lynx *Ursa Major *Ursa Minor *Draco *Camelopardalis *Cassiopeia *Cepheus *Andromeda *Perseus *Lacerta *Pegasus *Triangulum *Aries *Pisces *Cetus *Leo (rising) *Hydra (rising) *Canes Venatici (rising) Orion--Myth: Orion, the great ​ ​ hunter. In one myth, Orion boasted he would kill all the wild animals on the earth. But, the earth goddess Gaia, who was the protector of all animals, produced a gigantic scorpion, whose body was so heavily encased that Orion was unable to pierce through the armour, and was himself stung to death. His companion Artemis was greatly saddened and arranged for Orion to be immortalised among the stars. Scorpius, the scorpion, was placed on the opposite side of the sky so that Orion would never be hurt by it again. To this day, Orion is never seen in the sky at the same time as Scorpius. DSO’s ● ***M42 “Orion Nebula” (Neb) with Trapezium A stellar ​ ​ ​ nursery where new stars are being born, perhaps a thousand stars. These are immense clouds of interstellar gas and dust collapse inward to form stars, mainly of ionized hydrogen which gives off the red glow so dominant, and also ionized greenish oxygen gas. The youngest stars may be less than 300,000 years old, even as young as 10,000 years old (compared to the Sun, 4.6 billion years old). 1300 ly. ​ ​ 1 ● *M43--(Neb) “De Marin’s Nebula” The star-forming ​ “comma-shaped” region connected to the Orion Nebula. ● *M78--(Neb) Hard to see. A star-forming region connected to the ​ Orion Nebula.
    [Show full text]
  • The Mysterious Controller of the Universe : Shri Neelamadhava - Shri Jagannath
    ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review Madhava Madhava vacyam, Madhava madhava harih; Smaranti Madhava nityam, sarva karye su Madhavah. Towards the end of Lord Sri Rama’s regime in Tretaya Yuga, Sri Hanuman was advised by the Lord Sri Rama to remain immersed in meditation (dhyanayoga) in ‘Padmadri hill’ till his services would be recalled in Dwapar Yuga. When the great devotee, Sri Hanuman expressed his prayer as to how he would see his divine Master during such a long spell of time, the Lord advised him that he would be able to see his ever- The Mysterious Controller of the Universe : Shri Neelamadhava - Shri Jagannath Dr. K.C. Sarangi Lord, always desires His devotees to have cherished ‘Sri Rama’ in the form of Lord Sri equanimity in all circumstances: favourable or Neelamadhava whom he would worship in unfavourable, and to destroy their ingorance by ‘Brahmadri’, the adjacent hill and enjoy the the sword of conscience, ‘tasmat ajnana everlasting bliss ‘naisthikeem shantim’ as the sambhutam hrutstham jnanasinatmanah (Ch. IV, Gita describes (Ch.5, Verse 12). Sri Hanuman verse.42) and work in a detached manner was a sthitadhi. Those devotees, whose minds surrendering the fruit of all actions to the Lotus are equiposed, attend the victory over the world feet of the Lord so that the devotee does not during their life time. Since Paramatma the become partaker of the sins as the Lotus leaf is Almighty Father is flawless and equiposed, such not affected by water ‘brahmani adhyaya devotees rest in the lotus feet of the Lord karmani sangam tyaktwa karoiti yah, lipyate ‘nirdosam hi samam brahma tasmad na sa papena padmapatramivambasa’ (Ch.V, brahmani te sthitaah’, (ibid v.19).
    [Show full text]
  • Winter Observing Notes
    Wynyard Planetarium & Observatory Winter Observing Notes Wynyard Planetarium & Observatory PUBLIC OBSERVING – Winter Tour of the Sky with the Naked Eye NGC 457 CASSIOPEIA eta Cas Look for Notice how the constellations 5 the ‘W’ swing around Polaris during shape the night Is Dubhe yellowish compared 2 Polaris to Merak? Dubhe 3 Merak URSA MINOR Kochab 1 Is Kochab orange Pherkad compared to Polaris? THE PLOUGH 4 Mizar Alcor Figure 1: Sketch of the northern sky in winter. North 1. On leaving the planetarium, turn around and look northwards over the roof of the building. To your right is a group of stars like the outline of a saucepan standing up on it’s handle. This is the Plough (also called the Big Dipper) and is part of the constellation Ursa Major, the Great Bear. The top two stars are called the Pointers. Check with binoculars. Not all stars are white. The colour shows that Dubhe is cooler than Merak in the same way that red-hot is cooler than white-hot. 2. Use the Pointers to guide you to the left, to the next bright star. This is Polaris, the Pole (or North) Star. Note that it is not the brightest star in the sky, a common misconception. Below and to the right are two prominent but fainter stars. These are Kochab and Pherkad, the Guardians of the Pole. Look carefully and you will notice that Kochab is slightly orange when compared to Polaris. Check with binoculars. © Rob Peeling, CaDAS, 2007 version 2.0 Wynyard Planetarium & Observatory PUBLIC OBSERVING – Winter Polaris, Kochab and Pherkad mark the constellation Ursa Minor, the Little Bear.
    [Show full text]
  • South-Indian Images of Gods and Goddesses
    ASIA II MB- • ! 00/ CORNELL UNIVERSITY* LIBRARY Date Due >Sf{JviVre > -&h—2 RftPP )9 -Af v^r- tjy J A j£ **'lr *7 i !! in ^_ fc-£r Pg&diJBii'* Cornell University Library NB 1001.K92 South-indian images of gods and goddesse 3 1924 022 943 447 AGENTS FOR THE SALE OF MADRAS GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS. IN INDIA. A. G. Barraud & Co. (Late A. J. Combridge & Co.)> Madras. R. Cambrav & Co., Calcutta. E. M. Gopalakrishna Kone, Pudumantapam, Madura. Higginbothams (Ltd.), Mount Road, Madras. V. Kalyanarama Iyer & Co., Esplanade, Madras. G. C. Loganatham Brothers, Madras. S. Murthv & Co., Madras. G. A. Natesan & Co., Madras. The Superintendent, Nazair Kanun Hind Press, Allahabad. P. R. Rama Iyer & Co., Madras. D. B. Taraporevala Sons & Co., Bombay. Thacker & Co. (Ltd.), Bombay. Thacker, Spink & Co., Calcutta. S. Vas & Co., Madras. S.P.C.K. Press, Madras. IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. B. H. Blackwell, 50 and 51, Broad Street, Oxford. Constable & Co., 10, Orange Street, Leicester Square, London, W.C. Deighton, Bell & Co. (Ltd.), Cambridge. \ T. Fisher Unwin (Ltd.), j, Adelphi Terrace, London, W.C. Grindlay & Co., 54, Parliament Street, London, S.W. Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co. (Ltd.), 68—74, iCarter Lane, London, E.C. and 25, Museum Street, London, W.C. Henry S. King & Co., 65, Cornhill, London, E.C. X P. S. King & Son, 2 and 4, Great Smith Street, Westminster, London, S.W.- Luzac & Co., 46, Great Russell Street, London, W.C. B. Quaritch, 11, Grafton Street, New Bond Street, London, W. W. Thacker & Co.^f*Cre<d Lane, London, E.O? *' Oliver and Boyd, Tweeddale Court, Edinburgh.
    [Show full text]
  • Constellation Studies - Equatorial Sky in Winter
    Phys1810: General Astronomy 1 W2014 Constellation Studies - Equatorial Sky in Winter Preparation before the observing session - Read "Notes on Observing" thoroughly. - Find all the targets listed below using Starry Night and your star charts. - Note: The observatory longitude is 97.1234° W, the latitude is 49.6452° N and elevation is 233 meters. - Observe any predicted events and record your observations during the observing session In the list of constellations below, the name of the constellation is underlined followed by the genitive case of the name in parenthesis followed by the three-letter abbreviation. Note that references to stars such as α UMa, spoken as alpha Ursae Majoris (note genitive case), literally means alpha of Ursa Major. The Greek letters are usually assigned in order of brightness in the constellation (α -- brightest). Note that the constellation, Ursa Major, is a major exception to this rule. As soon as you get to the observatory the following 3 constellations should be sketched on a full page diagram making sure that their relative positions to each other and to the horizon are drawn as accurately as possible - this means completing the sketch in about 15 minutes. You need to repeat the sketch one hour later. Be sure to indicate the time and the location of the horizon on your diagram. Ursa Major (Ursae Majoris) UMa: (The Great Bear, The Big Dipper, The Plow) Through all ages, Ursa Major has been known under various names. It is linked with the nymph Kallisto, the daughter of Lycaon, a king of Arcadia in Greek mythology. Moving along the asterism of the dipper from the lip identify the stars Dubhe (α UMa), Merak (β UMa), Phecda (γ UMa), Megrez (δ UMa), Alioth (ε UMa), Mizar (ζ UMa), and Alkaid (η UMa).
    [Show full text]
  • Ganga As Perceived by Some Ganga Lovers Mother Ganga's Rights Are Our Rights
    Ganga as Perceived by Some Ganga Lovers Mother Ganga’s Rights Are Our Rights Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati Nearly 500 million people depend every day on the Ganga and Her tributaries for life itself. Like the most loving of mothers, She has served us, nourished us and enabled us to grow as a people, without hesitation, without discrimination, without vacation for millennia. Regardless of what we have done to Her, the Ganga continues in Her steady fl ow, providing the waters that offer nourishment, livelihoods, faith and hope: the waters that represents the very life-blood of our nation. If one may think of the planet Earth as a body, its trees would be its lungs, its rivers would be its veins, and the Ganga would be its very soul. For pilgrims, Her course is a lure: From Gaumukh, where she emerges like a beacon of hope from icy glaciers, to the Prayag of Allahabad, where Mother Ganga stretches out Her glorious hands to become one with the Yamuna and Saraswati Rivers, to Ganga Sagar, where She fi nally merges with the ocean in a tender embrace. As all oceans unite together, Ganga’s reach stretches far beyond national borders. All are Her children. For perhaps a billion people, Mother Ganga is a living goddess who can elevate the soul to blissful union with the Divine. She provides benediction for infants, hope for worshipful adults, and the promise of liberation for the dying and deceased. Every year, millions come to bathe in Ganga’s waters as a holy act of worship: closing their eyes in deep prayer as they reverently enter the waters equated with Divinity itself.
    [Show full text]
  • Revised NGO List Under Registration Category
    Revised NGO List under Registration Category - Voluntary Organization After 80th Board Meeting SNo NGO Name NGO Head Name Designation Address State District Email id Mobile 48 Panchwati Ward, Opp. Madhya aadhar.foundation 1 AADHAR FOUNDATION ER. Mahesh Kinth President Narendra Ayush Dhaba, Poama, Chhindwara 8989173581 Pradesh @rediffmail.com P/o Kundali Kala, Parasia Road E-4/223,Arera Colony,Near 10 no. Madhya [email protected] 2 Aadhar Gyan Dhatri Samiti Mrs. Ratna Mukerji Secretary Bhopal 9755554401 Market Pradesh m S2/258 adityawelfaresocie 3 Aaditya Welfare Society Narsingh Yadav Secretary Bhojubeer,Bhojubeer,Near UP Uttar Pradesh Varanasi 9936437260 [email protected] College Plot No. - 70/3530, (Ground 4 AAINA Sneha Mishra Secretary Floor),Behind Hotel Mayfair Odisha Khordha [email protected] 9437017967 Lagoon,Jaydev Vihar Aakanksha Lions School for Mentally Handicapped a unit Awanti Vihar,,In front of aakankshalsmh@y 5 K K Nayak Chairman Chattisgarh Raipur 9826845678 of Lions Club Raipur Sewa Bhaktawar Bhawan ahoo.com Samiti KHARAGIPUR,GANGAUPUR,RAM akankshasocietyma 6 AAKANKSHA SOCIETY JITENDRA YADAV SECRETARY Uttar Pradesh Mau 9258038100 AUPUR SUWAH LINK MARG [email protected] 120 NEAR GOVT HOSPITAL AARIOLA PRAKASH PUNJ BALVEER SINGH Madhya balveer.singhrajput 7 CHAIRMAN HARDA,AWASTHI COMPOUND Harda 9009616393 SHIKSHA SAMITI RAJPUT Pradesh @yahoo.com HARDA,HARDA AAROGYAA FOUNDATION FOR HEALTH PROMOTION DR RAJESH KUMAR COAT BAZAR,WARD No aarogyaafoundatio 8 SECERETARY Bihar Sitamarhi 9934691872 AND COMMUNITY BASED SUMAN 13,MAHARANI STHAN
    [Show full text]
  • An Introduction to the Sattra Culture of Assam: Belief, Change in Tradition
    Journal of Ethnology and Folkloristics 12 (2): 21–47 DOI: 10.2478/jef-2018-0009 AN INTRODUCTION TO THE SATTRA CULT URE OF ASSAM: BELIEF, CHANGE IN TRADITION AND CURRENT ENTANGLEMENT BABURAM SAIKIA PhD Student Department of Estonian and Comparative Folklore University of Tartu Ülikooli 16, 51003 Tartu, Estonia e-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT In 16th-century Assam, Srimanta Sankaradeva (1449–1568) introduced a move- ment known as eka sarana nama dharma – a religion devoted to one God (Vishnu or Krishna). The focus of the movement was to introduce a new form of Vaishnava doctrine, dedicated to the reformation of society and to the abolition of practices such as animal sacrifice, goddess worship, and discrimination based on caste or religion. A new institutional order was conceptualised by Sankaradeva at that time for the betterment of human wellbeing, which was given shape by his chief dis- ciple Madhavadeva. This came to be known as Sattra, a monastery-like religious and socio-cultural institution. Several Sattras were established by the disciples of Sankaradeva following his demise. Even though all Sattras derive from the broad tradition of Sankaradeva’s ideology, there is nevertheless some theological seg- mentation among different sects, and the manner of performing rituals differs from Sattra to Sattra. In this paper, my aim is to discuss the origin and subsequent transformations of Sattra as an institution. The article will also reflect upon the implication of traditions and of the process of traditionalisation in the context of Sattra culture. I will examine the power relations in Sattras: the influence of exter- nal forces and the support of locals to the Sattra authorities.
    [Show full text]